Daily Devotions from The Word Of God… From the heart of Ed Algreen

TEXT: 9 For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward him, so that he can show his great power in helping them.

OBSERVATION:When faced with the onslaught of the Cushites and the Libyans, who had large and powerful armies, King Asa sought God’s help, and God gave the two armies over to Asa. However, like Asa, we soon become self confident when our teams overcome the odds and win the overwhelming challenges ahead of them. So Asa thought that if only he had help from his friends, then he could also win the battle against Israel, so he sought the help of Ben-Hadad. It is very mind sobering to think about what the Lord spoke through Hanani, the leading priest/seer to King Asa about his plans. It is so applicable to us today.

APPLICATION:I want you to assume that it was you who testified in church recently how God brought you safely through surgery and took care of you, but I also want you to carefully recall the ordeal you had in making sure that Dr. XYZ was the only doctor who would work on you, and that nurse Tee was directly in charge of getting the best nurses for you. Over and over you shared with visitors how your doctor saved you one time before, and how confident you were that he could do it again this time around. Friends, I believe that we are all guilty of this at times, but I hope that we are reminded today through this Scripture that when our hearts are perfect towards God, He looks for ways to show His great power through us. I heard a guy on television last night who seemed like he believed in God when telling his story about how cancer gripped his body, and especially his voice. However, when it came down to giving public glory, he stated that it was music that brought him through and healed his voice. Really? Wouldn’t we be filling hospital rooms with music, so that each patient might listen and be healed? Friends, let me implore you to join me in examining our hearts in the light of our awesome God, and when we recognize changes in our lives, be willing to give Him glory for what He is about to accomplish in and through His work in us. You see, we have nothing to boast about but God. When healing or any other miracle is brought about, it’s God that we glorify and lift up above all names. If we asked God to protect us and be with us through our dilemma, then let’s be careful to lift His name on high so that the world might know that He lives, and that He lives and works in our lives! So where does your help come from? My dear friends, if God found a pure heart in you in which He could perform a miracle, then please be careful to give Him the praise while still in the hospital, in your home, in the nearby cafe and in the church. Be sure that the world knows that God’s not dead, no, He’s still very much alive, because He performed a miracle in you!

PRAYER:Thank You for this reminder today dear Lord. Like King Asa, we often feel so independent that we want to apply ourselves and take care of our situations our way. Yet we know deep inside that it’s You who holds the key to heaven, and only You who could save our souls and heal our bodies. As we come to You for help, please guide us to never forget where our help came from, instead help us to use that as a great opportunity to lift up your name on high, so that the world will know that you’re still alive and that You rule and reign in our lives. To God be all glory, honor and praise, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE:There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Wordand read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you atBible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!